High time for a nude awakening?

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Artist Ravi Verma’s painting is on display at the Delhi Art Gallery

The human body has inspired artists since ages. And the land of the Kamasutra celebrated the aesthetics of the human form. But that was before the moral police stood guard over the easel. Yet again, there’s a hullabaloo over an art show featuring nudes. And this time, the art frat is distinctly displeased and feels this goes against their freedom of expressiom.

“Nude and the Naked”, an ongoing exhibition at the Delhi Art Gallery which features works of masters, has allegedly been receiving threatening emails.
“We have been getting threatening calls and emails from certain sections of the society asking us to take off the show or else be prepared to face dire consequences. We have been informed that they have even sent mails to the chief minister and Delhi Commissioner, asking them to stop this exhibition. But we are going ahead with it,” said Kishore Singh, head of publicity and exhibition, Delhi Art Gallery.
So, does the country of erotica shy away from nudes and is shocked by them? “Nudes are a part of our ethos, but the moral brigade gets into an overdrive the moment they hear of any such exhibition. It has almost become a norm now,” says veteran artist and curator Dr Alka Raghuvanshi.
Artist Sudip Roy came under fire when his painting based on Charulata was targeted a few years back, when on display in the capital. Sudip believes those protesting can’t be art lovers or even remotely interested in art. “According to me, vandalism is the work of the politically-motivated lot who want to create a tamasha,” he says. But he also points out that galleries too are hesitant in putting up shows which have elements of nudity. “Recently a gallerist called me up and requested that I don’t place my nude painting prominently in the exhibition,” he says.
Manu Dosaj, owner of Gallery Alternative, feels things have worsened over the years. “Eleven years back we held a very ‘bold show’ titled, ‘Strip Show’. It was much appreciated. But today, one needs to think twice about such a show,” she says.
Young artist Abishekh Deora’s forte is nude art, and he feels the protests are hypocritical. “It seems there is no respect for nude art, but aren’t we born naked? Haven’t we given the world Ajanta, Ellora, Khajuraho? Can’t we stop being hypocrites?” he asks.
Ace photographer Amit Mehra is cynical, “We live in a country where we don’t have the right to speak our mind, accepting nudity in art is a far off thing.” But he also feels that disagreements are a sign of growth, if based on genuine beliefs. “As long as the artist is not disregarding anyone’s feeling and art is not outrageous, it’s okay to agree to disagree. In fact, it’s not possible to please every one every time,” he says.